Untamable Unquenchable

Untamable Unquenchable

Genesis 19: ⁴ Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. ⁵ And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”

⁶ So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, ⁷ and said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! ⁸ See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.”

 

⁹ And they said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. ¹⁰ But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. ¹¹ And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.

 

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After GOD visited Abraham and told him he would create a nation, Abraham took Lot to the place where GOD showed him. But eventually this land was too small. This was not the final land. Abraham asked Lot what land he wanted. Lot chose Sodom because they had figured out a human version of the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, Lot did not know what the people of Sodom were into.

 

My Observations:

• Lot was requested, by the men, to bring the angels out so they could have sex with them.
• Lot, being desperate, offered up his virgin daughters.
• Lot was threatened by the men who quickly reminded him that he was from the outside of the city.

 

From lust to violence, the men raced towards the house to grab Lot and the angels. The men had never touched Lot, especially after being rescued by Abraham. They were probably worried that word would get to Abraham and they would be killed. But they decided to take a chance.

 

Their lusts were “very grave” according to the LORD. Lot probably tried to tame them by telling them what they were doing wrong against GOD. But Lot was not Abraham. He believed in GOD’s ways, but may have also wanted to straddle the fence and use the ways of Sodom when convenient. He easily offered up his daughters to save the angels.

 

This situation was handled by the angels blinding the men. Anyone who tried to approach Lot’s house would be blinded. Even the strongest could not get in. The small were probably sneaky, and tried to get into the house’s weak areas. They became blind too. GOD allowed the angels to begin judgement.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD provided details of the conversation between the men of Sodom and Lot, to Moses?
• Has your ministry at a place come to an end?
• If GOD is moving you out of a place, will you accept change and ask HIM “Where do you want me to go”?

More to Life

More to Life

Colossians 3: ⁵ You must put to death, then, the earthly desires at work in you, such as sexual immorality, indecency, lust, evil passions, and greed (for greed is a form of idolatry). ⁶ Because of such things God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him. ⁷ At one time you yourselves used to live according to such desires, when your life was dominated by them.

 

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No one told me that after “doing it” for the first time, I would constantly crave to “do it” again. Something was awakened inside me that was insatiable at times. We ogled and commented about body parts and soon it became part of my everyday speech.

 

• My life was dominated and it seemed innocent.
• I had given up on being “good” so I could have pleasure.
• I found a crowd who was also dominated by the same thing.

 

Paul says something extremely hard. “You must put to death” were the extreme words he used to get people to change their minds. He never said “sex is bad” or “don’t make a living.” He warns people about an attitude that dominates a person so much, that the well-being of others gets diminished.

 

My Observations

• GOD gives me another way to look at HIS people.
• GOD wants me to see all people as HIS child who HE cares for deeply.
• JESUS gave me a new life that does not have to be dominated by sin.

 

Just having an alternative is freeing. I mean, when I had no alternative but to do sin, life seemed hopeless. BUT GOD gave me a way out. HE placed HIS HOLY SPIRIT inside me so I could take every thought captive and make it obey CHRIST.

 

Am I successful at controlling “every” thought? No. BUT GOD is pleased that I know HIM. HE does forgive me when I am weak. Forgiveness of sin is not permission to sin. HE knows I will reap what I sow. HE gives me more to life to pursue, namely HIM. I am glad GOD forgives and provides another way to live.

 

Challenge

• What stands out to you from the writers words?
• Is there any area of your life that is dominated and possibly out of control?
• Do you feel too weak to handle it by yourself?
• Will you praise GOD that HE gives your life purpose and seek HIS kingdom as an alternative to whatever is dominating your life today?

Permanent Solution

Permanent Solution

1 Corinthians 6: ⁷ The very fact that you have legal disputes among yourselves shows that you have failed completely. Would it not be better for you to be wronged? Would it not be better for you to be robbed? ⁸ Instead, you yourselves wrong one another and rob one another, even other believers! ⁹ Surely you know that the wicked will not possess God's Kingdom. Do not fool yourselves; people who are immoral or who worship idols or are adulterers or homosexual perverts ¹⁰ or who steal or are greedy or are drunkards or who slander others or are thieves—none of these will possess God's Kingdom. ¹¹ Some of you were like that. But you have been purified from sin; you have been dedicated to God; you have been put right with God by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

 

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“Maybe I can use a coat hanger” was my first thought in repairing the hatch back door on my jalopy of a car.  Of course the hanger did not fit properly. It was too thin to snugly connect the hatch to the car and if I doubled the hanger, it was too thick. I needed a permanent solution.

 

• There have been many times when I looked at temporary solutions as permanent.
• There have been many times when I declared something as “fixed” when it was still broken.
• There have been many times when I argued about my patch work, justifying why I repaired it the way I did.

 

Paul explains the reason it is frivolous to take legal action against another believer in JESUS. He, however, does it in a strange way. He explains that anyone who sins in any way, will not receive the kingdom of GOD. The sines he lists are temporary solutions to a deeper problem, namely the lack of a relationship with JESUS for salvation.

 

• GOD wants me to turn from temporary sin and replace it with a permanent solution, namely JESUS.
• GOD knows I cannot resist sin, so HE gave me a permanent solution, namely JESUS.
• GOD saw all the sins I would ever commit, and HE forgave me with HIS permanent solution, namely JESUS.

 

Trying to pick apart the list Paul writes, points to a deeper problem which is surrender. I mean, if I think “I” am not on the list he writes about and that I can tell someone else to straighten up because “their” actions are sinful, then I am the one with the serious problem. All have sinned and need a permanent solution to sin.

 

JESUS is that permanent solution. HE not only saves me eternally, HE guides me daily through the HOLY SPIRIT. When I want to use sin as my solution, the HOLY SPIRIT warns me and provides a way out. I don’t always take the way out, so HE pleads for me when I sin. I am grateful GOD’s grace is sufficient to cover my sins.

 

• Are you trying to fix your life with temporary sin?
• Do you think you were “born that way” and are unwilling to surrender your life to JESUS?
• Have you fallen for the lie that if you have committed a sin, GOD will not forgive you, or worse yet, you do not feel you need to be forgiven?
• Will you consider the love of JESUS and ask for forgiveness of any sin so HE will be faithful and just to forgive you of your sins and cleanse you of all unrighteousness today?

Power Revoked

Power Revoked

1 Corinthians 5: Now, it is actually being said that there is sexual immorality among you so terrible that not even the heathen would be guilty of it. I am told that a man is sleeping with his stepmother! ² How, then, can you be proud? On the contrary, you should be filled with sadness, and the man who has done such a thing should be expelled from your fellowship. ^3-4 And even though I am far away from you in body, still I am there with you in spirit; and as though I were there with you, I have in the name of our Lord Jesus already passed judgment on the man who has done this terrible thing. As you meet together, and I meet with you in my spirit, by the power of our Lord Jesus present with us, ⁵ you are to hand this man over to Satan for his body to be destroyed, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.

 

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Looking at porn at an early age set the stage for a struggle. Magazines were the internet of the time and I only got one, but that was enough. After the magazine became boring, I wanted the real thing. Isn’t sex before marriage old thinking I tried to justify.

 

• Many times I tried to justify my lusts as being human.
• Many times I tried to justify fulfilling my sexual desires outside of how GOD intended.
• Many times I tried to justify my sexual acts as being normal versus immoral.

 

Paul switched from compliments to a serious situation, namely sexual immorality. He gives one specific example and some instructions of how to handle the people involved. He suggests the man to be handed over to the power of Satan, keeping the man in his lusts, destroying his body. But what he was saying applies to everyone.

 

• GOD wants me to focus on sex as HE intended.
• GOD wants me to not be proud that I have fallen outside of HIS structure for sex.
• GOD wants me to know there are not degrees to sin.

 

Sin is sin. I mean, someone may think my sin is lightweight and GOD sees what I have done as devastating. Remember Adam? It only took one “innocent” bite of fruit to make all humans guilty of sin. That is how serious GOD takes sin.

 

Fortunately, JESUS provides salvation for my sins. But what about living? The man Paul spoke about still had a chance to have eternal life, but his power on earth may be ravaged with unexplained problem after problem. The man was doomed to live a non-victorious life. I am grateful JESUS forgives me and I seek “Well done” from GOD.

 

• Are you caught up in justifying how you perform sex?
• Do you think there are degrees of right and wrong when it comes to sex?
• Will you ask GOD to help you little by little so HE can guide you to where HE wants you to be regarding sex?

Okay, do your thing

 

Okay, do your thing

Romans 1: ²⁶ Because they do this, God has given them over to shameful passions. Even the women pervert the natural use of their sex by unnatural acts. ²⁷ In the same way the men give up natural sexual relations with women and burn with passion for each other. Men do shameful things with each other, and as a result they bring upon themselves the punishment they deserve for their wrongdoing.

 

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Thinking of another response I argued my point. The person, who was simply trying to give me advice said, “Okay, do your thing.” I kept on my path and ran into the problems he was trying to warn me about.

 

• There were times when I did not listen.
• There were times when I did what I wanted to do.
• There were times when I followed my heart, but inside was something bad.

 

Paul explains there would be some people who explain away GOD so they can do what they want to do. By doing this, some people would accept a path that was not defined by GOD. Some women would choose unnatural sex acts and men would choose men for sex.

 

• GOD wants me to ask “What do YOU want?”
• GOD wants me to follow HIS way, especially when I don’t want to.
• GOD wants me to understand that HE is the creator and knows the best way.

 

“Okay, do your thing” is a difficult sentence from GOD. I mean, HE has so much grace that HE allows me to sin as much as I want. The problem is, I can become so accustomed to the sin that I question HIS laws and HIS existence, simply because I do not like the rule. BUT GOD still has compassion.

 

HE allows anyone who believes in JESUS to be saved, no matter how deep in sin the person is. HE looks at any sin as the same. Lies, racism and sex outside of HIS definition are equally abysmal to HIM. That’s why HE chose to die for me instead of punishing me. Anyone who believes in JESUS surrenders sin little by little. I am glad HE gives me chance after chance.

 

• Are you arguing the existence of GOD because you do not like HIS rule?
• Do you push HIS love away to do sex your way?
• Will you believe in the truth, which is JESUS, and allow HIM to guide you to a life filled with purpose and abundance today?

GOD Won’t Mind

Jeremiah 32: ³⁷ I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. ³⁸ They will be my people, and I will be their God. ³⁹ I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. ⁴⁰ I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. ⁴¹ I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

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Too tired to pray I skipped it and said to myself, “GOD won’t mind.” I mean HE knows I’m tired. Hanging out with a crowd, saying and doing what they were, I said to myself “GOD won’t mind.” I mean, isn’t HE supposed to forgive me anyway? Skipping church for months, even years and then when I did go I decided not to give, I said to myself “GOD won’t mind.” I mean those religious people are hypocrites anyway and I don’t want to be a hypocrite.

• Many times I took my relationship with GOD as “granted.”
• Many times I thought GOD would never get angry with me.
• Many times I justified my sin by saying “the man upstairs is supposed to forgive me.”

Having the wrong view of GOD lead to calamity in my life. Instead of the freedom I anticipated, I wound up trapped in a cage full of sin with no way out. Broken relationships, broken accomplishments and broken bank made me realize that doing life on my own was incredibly sad and wrong. There had to be something more, something greater.

• GOD said to me “I will be your GOD and you MY people.”
• GOD said to me “I will gather you and give you singleness of heart and action so you will always fear ME and that all will go well with you and your children.”
• GOD said to me “I will make an everlasting covenant with you and never stop doing good to you.”
• GOD said to me “I will inspire you to fear ME, so you will never turn away from ME.”

A solid relationship is what GOD wants with me, but HE can’t have it when I turn my back on HIM and HIS ways. When I run away from HIM and sin like there is no tomorrow, I should expect consequences and hope they are repairable. My fear of GOD should keep me doing what HE wants me to do rather than fulfilling any temptation that pops into my head. I must think to myself “GOD will mind” in order to have a life where all is well.

• Are you living a lifestyle that is not pleasing to GOD?
• Have you said to yourself “GOD made me this way” instead of asking HIM how do YOU want me to live?
• Will you consider stop trying to please people and seeking to please GOD by serving others the way HE has gifted you?

Learning to Follow

Psalm 15: ¹ Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
    Who may live on your holy mountain?

² The one whose walk is blameless,
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth from their heart;
³ whose tongue utters no slander,
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
⁴ who despises a vile person
    but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
⁵ who lends money to the poor without interest;
    who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
    will never be shaken.

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Grousing at the horrid conditions of not having a full breakfast at meetings was something I couldn’t get into. “We should be thankful for what we had” was my thought. Then the company cut back on randomly giving away tee shirts. “Come on! This place can afford a lousy tee shirt, I groused!”

• Complaining blinds me more than I know.
• Complaining hardens my heart to hearing.
• Complaining leads to slander that is very hard to reverse.

I never knew that the seed of complaining grows an ugly vine within me. I mean even the smallest complaint can grow a tree of superiority, arrogance and a deserving attitude that does not draw people to GOD. How can I counter my complaining attitude?

• GOD says to me “Utter no slander” even when the crowd is doing it, especially about leaders.
• GOD says to me “Do no wrong to your neighbor” even when the neighbor is crazy.
• GOD says to me “Cast no slur on others” especially racial, sexual, age or class.
• GOD says to me “Despise a vile person” which is difficult when I too am vile so I must give the person to GOD.
• GOD says to me “Honor those who fear ME, who trust ME, who keeps oaths when it hurts, who does not change their mind, who lends money to the poor without interest, who does not accept bribes” which means I must recognize these traits in others. 

Getting rid of my complaining seeds is not easy, but the more I can spit the poison out of my mouth the more GOD replaces my seeds with fruit.

• Are you a complainer?
• Have you spread slander about a person who is not in the room with you?
• Can you reduce your poisonous words and replace them with praise?
• Will you learn to follow JESUS’ ways and be gentle, even to your enemies?

Am I paranoid of people who don’t look and act like me?

Exodus 1: ⁶ Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, ⁷ but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.

⁸ Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. ⁹ “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. ¹⁰ Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”

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A person of another race reached out to me to befriend me. Memories of acts of hatred from others of his race rushed to mind. “What does he want from me?” my suspicious mind conjured. I bet he is trying to steal my ideas.  I better put my guards up around this guy.

• When I become paranoid, I dream up the worst about people.
• When I become paranoid, I put up my guards.
• When I become paranoid, I go into self-preservation.

Call it a defense mechanism but I don’t like my hopes raised only to have them dashed to the ground, so I get ahead of the game by putting up my guards. If someone doesn’t look or act like me, I become suspicious.

• GOD says to me “open your heart to many and I will draw them to ME.”
• GOD says to me “stop looking on the outside so I can look on the inside.”
• GOD says to me “drop your defenses so my grace can consume all ills.”

GOD wants me to get out of the way of HIS grace.  When I place my judgmental attitude on someone, there is no room for grace.  Is there a chance I could get hurt? Yes, but GOD’s grace covers that too. HIS grace is sufficient.

• Are you paranoid over reaching out to someone who does not look like you?
• Do you dream up why you are different rather than think of what you have in common?
• Can you see others as GOD sees them?
• Won’t you reach out to those you feel paranoid about and help them seek GOD?

In memory of James Washington

Am I as blind as a Pharisee?

James 1: ²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

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“What is that church thinking” I said to a friend. I began to dissect the sermon, their intentions and even the clothes some of the people were wearing. Then I turned to look at other people the next day and began to dissect their clothes, messages and intentions.  I found them all appalling. Everyone else is wrong, right?

• When I think “those” people are wrong them my religion is worthless to GOD.
• When I think “my” actions are better than “those” people then my religion is worthless to GOD.
• When I think “they” are sinners and “they” are falling away then my religion is worthless to GOD.

Quite honestly I am very disappointed with gathering as a collective group because I tend to want to exclude someone who makes me feel uncomfortable. I mean if they don’t listen to my music, dress the way I dress or think the way I think it becomes difficult and I don’t have the energy to deal with “those” people. BUT GOD did it differently.

• JESUS ate with “those” people and wants me to do the same.
• JESUS went to “those” people and wants me to seek them as well.
• JESUS prayed for “those” people and wants me to have enough compassion to pray for them too.

Any time I think “those” people are doing it wrong I forget to include myself in the group. I actually fool myself and believe I am not acting like a Pharisee but in reality I am.  GOD loves HIS humans and wants me to go to “all” humans not just the ones I feel comfortable with. HE wants me to help those in need rather than hanging out in my club.

My little world has been turned upside down because GOD wants me to reduce me for HIM to save “them.”

• Would the music, news and publications you gravitate toward offend someone who needs CHRIST?
• Are you a catalyst to drawing many types of people to GOD or only one type?
• Will you stop looking at “them” for a moment and look at “you” to see if you have become a Pharisee who judges “them?”

Take Courage GOD is right there!

Acts 23: ¹⁰ The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

 ¹¹ The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

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Tossing and turning I spent one night futilely trying to get to sleep.  The speech was on my mind because I had to explain why things weren’t working.  When I got out on stage I could see the hostile faces.  It seemed like everyone wanted to rip my heart out. “LORD where are you?” I thought to myself.

• There are times when humans will get mad at me and I feel I have no place to turn.
• There are times when humans will be disappointed with the way I act or something I did.
• There are times when humans will make me the fall guy because it’s convenient.
• There are times when humans will be hurt by things I have said or actions I have taken.

I have been in violent situations but never a mob circumstance like Paul. He was trying to change the minds of those who were blind to GOD and treated HIM like a figurehead rather than the leader of their lives.  The Pharisees and Sadducees talked about GOD and even went to church weekly but never turned their lives over to HIM.

They felt threatened when someone tried to correct them in love and never once admitted they had a problem. In fact they rioted to keep their lifestyle because it was lavish and cushy and respectful. I mean how could you go wrong talking about GOD and getting paid for it? They didn’t have to “believe” in the stuff, just talk about it right? Wrong!

• GOD wants me to stand firm even if it means I get embarrassed in the process.
• GOD wants me to admit to others I sin regularly, but I am sinning less and less.
• GOD wants me to point people to HIS perfection and take eyes off of me.
• GOD wants me to understand HE is right here next to me in the middle of any trouble.

I just noticed it wasn’t an angel who came to talk to Paul it was JESUS. HE said “take courage!” and HE meant it.  HE wants me to have courage to face any situation without running away! HE has the power to fix, heal and mend any problem I have.

• Are you busy drawing attention to yourself?
• Are you busy holding onto a lifestyle that you know in your heart is against GOD?
• Do you realize it take admission of a problem in order to be healed?
• What problem is too big for GOD?
• What sins are you trying to take to the grave with you?

My sin is only an excuse

Acts 22:  ¹⁹ “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. ²⁰ And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’

 ²¹ “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

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Groggy and a little disoriented I woke up and decided to go to church. I was a Sunday-School teacher now but I figured my single lifestyle didn’t have to be hampered with that detail. As I walked down the steps with my class I heard a voice all the way across the entrance of the sanctuary.

“Hey, we had a great time at the club last night! Did you get her number? ” What made him yell “that” in church? And whose number was he talking about? And most of all, what will my class think of me?

• My sin tells me that I am broken and can’t serve GOD.
• My sin tells me to remain broken and tries to get me to believe I can’t be fixed.
• My sin tells me to hide “it” and look good in front of everyone.

When I listen to my sin I sometimes feel small, ashamed, weak, and low down.  I see my imperfections and I think, GOD can’t possibly want a broken person like me to tell others about HIS goodness.  I mean “I’m not a preacher, I don’t know the Bible and I’m chasing women… I can’t change” or at least that’s what I thought!

• GOD saw “all” of my sins and chose me anyway.
• GOD knew every mistake I would ever make and still gave me a purpose.
• GOD understood I would face many obstacles so HE filled my life with the HOLY SPIRIT to protect me and guide me and comfort me.

Broken people are exactly what GOD uses the most.  HE looks at my life and sees nothing but perfection because HE is looking through me and sees the HOLY SPIRIT HE place inside of me. HE no longer sees my sinful outer crust but looks at a washed, cleaned and dusted off soul.

I heard this weekend that change is a lifelong process. I should examine my lifestyle and give “every” element to CHRIST. Little by little I should give my sins to HIM and exchange them for telling people about HIS SON. My sinful lifestyle should no longer be an excuse to living for JESUS.

• Are you busy trying to look good in front of people?
• Are you trying to serve GOD “and” keep your sinful lifestyle?
• Won’t you give up your sins little by little?
• Will you start telling people about GOD’s forgiveness even in the middle of your sin?

Giving “it” to GOD requires open hands.

Luke 17: ³³ Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

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Getting my way is something I have strived for over a number of years. A desire pops in my head and I get stuck on its merits, dreaming of better days if I got “that” thing. Sometimes achieving my desire isn’t all that it is cracked up to be.

• Upon achieving my goal of becoming the highest title in my industry I found schemes, hatred and pressure.
• When I made lots and lots of money I introduced to myself lots and lots of worries.
• The moment I got what I wanted, I suddenly had no time for GOD.

There is nothing wrong with hard work or achieving a title but I was trying to “become” the title instead of the title “becoming part of me.” My first and foremost service is supposed to be for GOD so I should point my desires in HIS direction.

• When I achieve my title I should ask GOD “what does HE want to do with it?”
• When I gain wealth I should ask GOD first “who do YOU want me to give my money to?”
• When I look for the new group or association to be involved with I should ask GOD “who do YOU want me to reach?”

Sometimes I really believe my life is “mine” and it really isn’t, it’s GOD’s. GOD has the right to do with my life as HE pleases.  HE can tear me down or raise me up or tear me down again as HE pleases.

While HE allows or even places difficult circumstances in my life, I should continue to ask HIM “how do YOU want me to serve YOU and who can I serve next?” GOD even owns my sin.  Yes HE is big enough and strong enough to handle the sin I so easily fall into. HE loved me so much that HE died for all of them. I owe my entire life to HIM because HE loved me first!

• What are you trying to hold on to?
• Can you open your hands and let go of every aspect of your life, even your sin?
• Will you ask GOD “what do YOU want to do with my life?”
• Do you want a full life?
• Are you willing to seek GOD to serve HIM and the humans HE directs your way?

Let GOD do the "judging" you do the "loving."

Romans 1:26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

  

28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

 

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I have realized over the years that when I read the Bible, I'm not reading it for someone else. I'm reading it for me. I have to read the passages to see what GOD is saying to me and me alone.

 

When I do this I get a different perspective from the scripture that usually applies directly to my life. In this scripture I am learning a lot about sin and a lot about GOD. 

• Sin causes me to be blind. 
• Sin causes me to crave more sin. 
• Sin causes me to question GOD and HIS ways. 
• Sin causes me to really want my way. I win, GOD and everyone else loses. 

 

GOD makes up the rules because HE is the creator. I can't even question "why did YOU create me?" GOD is GOD. HE is passionate about HIS love for me and desires what is best. HE knows the affect of sin on my life and knows the more I sin the weaker my testimony will be.

• GOD uses broken people, yet HE allows me to choose "following HIM" or doing wrong. 
• GOD forgives all sin, yet HE tells me that blatant disregard for what HE says will be dealt with. 
• GOD loves every one of HIS creations, yet HE won't interfere with me choosing to sin versus following HIM.

Paul speaks very clearly about sin. He was inspired by GOD to tell us that we can get pleasure out of even the littlest sin. Once I seem to "get away" with sin then I will do more sin an bigger sins. 

 

What hurts the most is the Bible says "Although they know GOD's righteous decree." In other words I know what is right, yet I ignore what "GOD wants" and do what "I want." 

• It's important for me to love people instead of judging them. 
• It's important for me to see humans as GOD sees them. 
• It's important for me to understand what people are going through rather than point out their sins.

 

GOD will make it extremely clear to the sinner that they need to stop doing what they are doing. HE has the power to change hearts. I know this because HE is changing mine.

• Are you blatantly sinning?
• Is GOD changing your mind about sin or are you going to dig your heels in?
• Do you believe you are forgiven for your sins?
• Are you acting like you are forgiven or are you telling GOD you will not change and HE better accept you on your terms?